"But Jesus Didn't Go Through the Metro"

We were shocked to hear these words come from our dear, sweet Valentina! She recently read that being angry with someone is the same as murder in God's eyes. She said that she didn't see how she could love some people. One of the verses that we shared with her was Hebrews 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." That's when she said, "But Jesus didn't go through the metro!" (The metro is a subway. It is usually full of people pushing and shoving.)

How often do we feel that way? Me? A missionary wife?? NEVER!

Matthew 22:37-39

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

What a HARD time we have with that! It seems IMPOSSIBLE to love some people, and it is...if we try to do it on our own. If we follow the first commandment and love the Lord with all of our heart, then the second one will just come naturally. Brother Winstead told us before we left for Ukraine, "Keep your eyes on Jesus, not on the people. People will hurt you, deceive you, lie to you, use you, and just be unlovable at times. If you look at them, you'll leave the field. Just keep your eyes on Jesus and He'll love them through you." There have been times when I got discouraged by how I was being treated by "these people," but we didn't come here to be loved, adored, and taken care of by them. We came here to share the gospel with those that are lost (and if they are lost, why shouldn't they be unlovely? We're all unlovely without Christ!), and to train and strengthen the Christians that are here. Without Christ, this is impossible. As long as I keep my eyes on Jesus, and love the Lord my God with ALL my heart, His love will flow through my heart to the unlovely.